Dogfish Head’s Analog-A Go-Go music fest took things to a new level in its sixth year, moving the event to Bellevue State Park in Wilmington, DE and taking over the park in with its unique combination of live music, craft beer, vinyl and art. A diverse offering of local and national acts was a bold move for a festival in its first large effort- with headliners Built To Spill (a Dogfish favorite) supported by Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Taleb Kweli, Hop Along, Beach Slang and Fiancé. Continue reading →

Local Delaware brewery Dogfish Head is in the business of making good beer, but did you know they’ve also jumped into the music festival scene? On September 17, the 6th annual Dogfish Head Analog-a-Go-Go festival is coming to Bellvue State Park near Wilmington. Continue reading →

“I can’t get that sound you made out of my head” – Built To Spill on “I Would Hurt A Fly”

Not that I’ve been trying to get their sound out of my head, but it’s been nearly 20 years and I consistently find myself humming a Built To Spill tune once or twice a week (and after nearly 20 years, some of the lyrics remain just as cryptic.) Going to a Built To Spill show was a little bittersweet for me, as it ended a sort of unspoken embargo I had on them. Perfect From Now On, Keep It Like A Secret, and Ancient Melodies of The Future were (and still are) a holy trinity of albums. Released in rapid succession they became my intro to the world of what would eventually be called “Indie Rock” (wether lovingly or spitefully). But, it was 5 long years before the next album, You In Reverse, and for one reason or another, I never got around to it, or There Is No Enemy.

Flash forward to 2015 and I found myself in a unique position to actually go and see them, and so I binged. I had never stopped listening to those oh-so-special albums, but I looped the new ones for a few days. It was like catching up with an old friend I hadn’t seen in a decade, only to realize nothing had changed. Continue reading →

In support of his newest album, Positive Songs For Negative People, Frank Turner is embarking on a full US and UK tour, and will be hitting The Fillmore tonight. The British folk-rocker will be performing with his backing band, The Sleeping Souls. Get more information about the show at the XPN Concert Calendar, and check out the music video for “Get Better” below. Continue reading →

The Indie Rock Hit Parade is ready to make your brain move tonight. Tune in at 11pm ET (or better yet, stay tuned after Making Time RAD-io with Dave P) for a full two-hour mix of brand new tracks and moldy old favorites. We’ve got a special treat direct from parts unknown (Brooklyn): Prince Rama will premiere songs from their in-progress new album, live in our studio!

The Indie Rock Hit Parade returns from a brief break tonight at 11pm on XPN! We’ll make up for lost time in a big way, starting off with a new Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session featuring Oklahoma rockers Broncho! We’ll hear live performances of songs from the band’s latest album, Just Enough Hip To Be Woman. We’ll also spotlight the newest album from long-running indie favorites of Montreal, and we’ll hear a few of these new tracks in the mix:

Australia’s Chet Faker will perform at Union Transfer tonight following his Free at Noon performance at XPN’s Non-COMMvention. The recent World Cafe artist released his debut LP Built On Glass in April, following up a pair of EPs and his remix of “No Diggity” by Blackstreet that originally put him on the radar. Take a listen to his soulful, electronic World Cafe session here and download a live version of “1998” below. Tickets and information for the all-ages show can be found here.

Colin Meloy, lead singer of The Decemberists, brings his solo tour to the Keswick Theatre tonight. The Portland, OR musician will be sharing new songs alongside tracks from his extensive catalog during the tour. He’s also supporting a new cover EP called Colin Meloy Sings The Kinks, which he discussed in an interview with The Key earlier this week. Tickets and information for the all-ages solo show can be found here. Below, listen to Meloy covering “Sister I’m a Poet” from his previous Morrissey cover EP.

XPN welcomes Matt Nathanson to the Electric Factory tonight. The poppy singer-songwriter is touring in support of a new album called Last of the Great Pretenders, released in July on Vanguard Records. Tonight, Nathanson will be joined by Joshua Radin. Tickets and information can be found here. Below, watch the video for Last of the Great Pretenders‘ first single “Mission Bells.”

Local psychedelic rockers Far-Out Fangtooth celebrate the release of Borrowed Time tonight at Boot & Saddle. It’s the second full-length LP for the two year old band, put out via legendary cult label Siltbreeze. In an interview with The Key earlier this week, the band explained the root of their dark and gothy sound, in addition to detailing how Far-Out Fangtooth came together. Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show can be found here. Watch their new video for “Beyond Your Bones” below.

About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH

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About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH